Urban Food Systems Master's Degree

In this rapidly growing field, you can have a strong influence through your understanding of how urban agriculture and food systems impact the lives of people in our communities.

• Food systems project management
• Urban farming or food production management
• Nonprofit management
• Food aggregation and distribution
• Urban planning and landscape design
• Farmers market organization and management
• Municipal (city/county) horticulture
• Community garden coordination
• Extension and public education
• University faculty
• Research scientist at a lab or unit

Professional track (30 credit hours)

• More appropriate for working professionals
• Accommodates students with any degree background and skillset
• 100% online
• For those interested in increasing their knowledge of urban food systems and topical issues around them

Thesis track (30 credit hours)

• Includes a research project
• Accommodates students with any degree background and skillset
• Hybrid delivery (face-to-face and online courses)
• Non-terminal degree and suitable for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D.

• Kansas City offers a vibrant urban agriculture scene with numerous community food-based projects, nonprofits and local urban and peri-urban farmers working to provide access to fresh, healthy food.

• K-State Olathe's location provides opportunities to work at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center as well as other institutions in the metro region.

• Work with an interdisciplinary cohort of students and faculty in Olathe and Manhattan.

• Courses in controlled environment agriculture techniques

Unique Resources
As a student in the program, you'll have access to several unique resources and opportunities that provide an in-depth farm to fork experience.

The Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center, or OHREC, is a research farm located about 20 minutes from the Olathe campus. Here, you can conduct hands-on experiments in grafting, growing and harvesting fresh produce.

The Postharvest Physiology Lab and the Food Safety Lab at the Olathe campus are where a lot of the OREC produce is analyzed for safety and quality.

The professional and thesis tracks are both 30 credit hours. In either track, you can customize your program to your area of interest with eight to 18 elective credit hours. Students also have the opportunity to work on commercial farms, research stations and other nearby food projects in the practicum course.

The urban food systems faculty specialize in the following topic areas:

• Urban food systems
• Sustainable food production systems
• Food safety of fruits and vegetables
• Urban food production and postharvest handling
• Controlled environment agriculture

Urban Food Specialization course requirements are as follows:

• HORT 791 - Urban Agriculture
• HORT 792 - Urban Food Production Practicum
• HORT 794 - Urban Food Systems
• HORT 796 - Professional Development in Urban Food Systems
• Specialization Elective, must choose at least 3 credit hours from the following:
  • HORT 725 - Postharvest Technology and Physiology of Horticultural Crops
  • HORT 790 - Sustainable Agriculture
  • HORT 793 - Farm to Fork Produce Safety
  • HORT 795 - Urban Agriculture Study Tour

Thesis Option course and research credit requirements are as follows:

• At least 30 credit hours beyond a B.S. degree
• 2 credit hours of Horticulture Graduate Seminar (HORT 951)
• At least 3 credit hours of Scientific Writing
• At least 3 credit hours of 700 level or above Statistic courses
• At least 6 credit hours of Thesis Research (HORT 899)
• 8 credit hours of additional courses to be determined with Advisory Committee

Professional (non-thesis) Option course and research credit requirements are as follows:

• At least 30 credit hours beyond a B.S. degree
• At least 3 credit hours of Professional or Scientific Writing
• At least 3 credit ours of 700 level or above Statistic courses
• At least 2 credit hours of Master’s Report (HORT 898)
• 13 credit hours of additional courses to be determined with Advisory Committee

View the full course catalog.

Meet our interdisciplinary faculty group:

	Eleni Pliakoni, Ph.D. Professor of Urban Food Production and Postharvest Handling Biography
	Cary Rivard, Ph.D. Professor of Horticulture and Natural Resources Extension Specialist Director of the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center Biography
	Jeremy Cowan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sustainable Food Production Systems Biography
	Londa Nwadike, Ph.D. Extension Associate Professor of Food Safety for Kansas State University and the University of Missouri Biography
	Manreet Bhullar, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor of Produce Safety Biography
	Teng Yang, Ph.D. Teaching Assistant Professor in Controlled Environment Agriculture Biography
	Tricia Jenkins, Ph.D. Teaching Assistant Professor in Urban Food Systems Biography

Johnson County resident scholarship
Students who live in Johnson County and who are applying to this program or the horticulture doctoral program may be eligible for a Johnson County resident scholarship.

These scholarships for Johnson County residents are sponsored by the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle, or JCERT. Scholarship awards are based on availability of funds. Applicants may be awarded up to $5,000 for master's degree programs for the duration of their program of study, provided they meet minimum academic and enrollment requirements. Scholarship amounts vary depending on fund availability, merit and need.

Eligibility details:

• Applicant must be a resident of Johnson County, Kansas. Proof of residency will be required.
• Applicants must be resident at K-State Olathe and admitted to or seeking admission to the following JCERT mission-related programs:
  • Urban Food Systems (master's degree)

Apply for a Johnson County resident scholarship.

Daniel C. and Kathy Richardson Graduate Student Support for Agriculture, Food and Related Disciplines Scholarship
Students who are applying to this master's degree program may be eligible for the Daniel C. and Kathy Richardson Graduate Student Support for Agriculture, Food and Related Disciplines Scholarship. Scholarship recipients will receive a one-time award consisting of $2,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year $2,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Students are nominated for this scholarship by their academic department.

Eligibility details:

• Graduate students enrolled in any agricultural degree program at K-State Olathe.
• Conducting research in programs focused on food safety or food security.
• Collaborating with other programs, which might include, but not be limited to, the College of Agriculture.

View all scholarships available at K-State Olathe.

Students will be able to work full-time while enrolled in the Horticulture program and have the option to pursue two different tracks, the thesis or professional track. Each track gives students a significant amount of electives to pursue research in their interest areas. Moreover, students will able to attend classes at K-State Olathe, as well as hybrid classes in conjunction with the Manhattan campus students.

The majority of full-time students will complete this degree in about 2 years. A minimum of 30 semester hours of credit is required.

No, the GRE is not required for admission to the program.

No. Many of our students have backgrounds in non-horticultural fields, such as liberal arts, history, sociology and others.

In addition, students interested in Urban Food System classes can take up to nine credit hours after applying to the Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student.

Students must take or have taken an entry-level soil science course and an introductory level biology or plant science course. Note that these courses can be done while enrolled in the program, but must be completed in order to receive the degree.